Our Daily Bread - Choosing to Change

By Jennifer Benson Schuldt

Read: Ezekiel 18:25–32 | Bible in a Year: Jeremiah 3–5; 1 Timothy 4

Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Ezekiel 18:31

When my son acquired a small robot, he had fun programming it to perform simple tasks. He could make it move forward, stop, and then retrace its steps. He could even get it to beep and replay recorded noises. The robot did exactly what my son told it to do. It never laughed spontaneously or veered off in an unplanned direction. It had no choice.

When God created humans, He didn’t make robots. God made us in His image, and this means we can think, reason, and make decisions. We’re able to choose between right and wrong. Even if we have made a habit of disobeying God, we can decide to redirect our lives.

When the ancient Israelites found themselves in trouble with God, He spoke to them through the prophet Ezekiel. Ezekiel said, “Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. . . . Get a new heart and a new spirit” (Ezek. 18:30–31).

This kind of change can begin with just one choice, empowered by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:13). It might mean saying no at a critical moment. No more gossip. No more greed. No more jealousy. No more ___________. (You fill in the blank.) If you know Jesus, you’re not a slave to sin. You can choose to change, and with God’s help, this personal revolution can start today.

Dear God, all things are possible with You. Through the power of Jesus’s resurrection help me to take the first step toward a life of greater devotion to You.

For a new start, ask God for a new heart.

© 2016 Our Daily Bread Ministries

Unser Täglich Brot - Veränderungswillig

Von Jennifer Benson Schuldt

Lesen: Hesekiel 18,25-32 | Die Bibel In Einem Jahr: Jeremia 3–5; 1.Timotheus 4

Werft von euch alle eure Übertretungen, die ihr begangen habt, und macht euch ein neues Herz und einen neuen Geist. (Hesekiel 18,31)

Mein Sohn hatte sich einen kleinen Roboter gekauft und programmierte ihn begeistert, damit er vorwärts laufen, anhalten und zurückgehen konnte. Er konnte ihn auch dazu bringen, zu piepen und Geräusche wiederzugeben, die er vorher aufgenommen hatte. Der Roboter tat genau das, was mein Sohn ihm befahl. Aber er lachte nie spontan drauflos oder lief einfach davon. Er konnte nicht frei entscheiden.

Gott schuf die Menschen nicht als Roboter, sondern als sein Ebenbild und das bedeutet, dass wir denken, überlegen und Entscheidungen treffen können. Wir können wählen zwischen richtig und falsch. Und selbst, wenn wir es uns zur Gewohnheit gemacht haben, Gott nicht zu folgen, können wir es uns immer noch anders überlegen.

Als die Israeliten Probleme hatten, sprach Gott zu ihnen durch den Propheten Hesekiel: „Kehrt um und kehrt euch ab von allen euren Übertretungen, damit ihr nicht durch sie in Schuld fallt . . . Macht euch ein neues Herz und einen neuen Geist“ (Hes. 18,30-31).

Eine solche Umkehr kann mit einer einzigen Entscheidung beginnen (Röm. 8,13), dass wir zum Beispiel im kritischen Moment Nein sagen. Nein zu Klatsch und Tratsch. Nein zur Gier. Nein zur Eifersucht. Nein zu ________________ (bitte ausfüllen). Wenn du Jesus kennst, bist du kein Sklave der Sünde. Du kannst dich ändern, wenn du willst, und das kann, mit Gottes Hilfe, heute beginnen.

Lieber Herr, bei dir sind alle Dinge möglich. Hilf mir durch die Kraft Jesu, heute den ersten Schritt zu einem Leben noch größerer Hingabe zu tun.

Für einen neuen Anfang bitte Gott um ein neues Herz.

© 2016 Unser Täglich Brot

Хлеб наш насущный - Решение меняться

автор: Дженифер Бенсон Шульдт

Читать сейчас: Иезекииль 18:25-32 | Библия за год: Иеремия 3-5; Ефесянам 5:17-33

Отвергните от себя все грехи ваши, которыми согрешали вы, и сотворите себе новое сердце и новый дух. — Иезекииль 18:31

Моему сыну подарили маленького робота, и он с увлечением занялся его программированием. Робот двигался по заданной траектории, останавливался, возвращался назад. Кроме того, он умел издавать разные сигналы и повторять записанные звуки. Но при этом он делал только то, на что был запрограммирован. Он не мог издавать случайные звуки или пойти куда вздумается. Роботы не могут выбирать.

Создавая людей, Бог сотворил их по Своему образу и подобию. Это значит, что мы можем думать и принимать решения. Мы способны выбирать между добром и злом. И даже если непослушание Богу вошло у нас в привычку, мы можем перенаправить свою жизнь в новое русло.

Когда древние израильтяне окончательно отвернулись от Бога, Он послал к ним пророка Иезекииля, который объявил: «Покайтесь и обратитесь от всех преступлений ваших, чтобы нечестие не было вам преткновением... Сотворите себе новое сердце и новый дух. И зачем вам умирать, дом Израилев?» (Иез. 18:30-31).

Подобная перемена может начаться с единственного решения, вдохновленного Святым Духом (Рим. 8:13). Отказаться от сплетен. Перестать жадничать. Больше не ___________________ (заполните этот пробел сами). Если вы знаете Иисуса Христа, то вы больше не раб греха. С Божьей помощью эта личная революция может начаться прямо сегодня.

Боже, все возможно Тебе. Силой воскресения Христа помоги мне сделать первый шаг навстречу жизни большего посвящения Тебе.

Чтобы начать все заново, попросите у Бога новое сердце.

© 2016 Хлеб Наш Насущный

Notre Pain Quotidien - Choisir de changer

par Jennifer Benson Schuldt

Lisez : Ézéchiel 18.25‑32 | La Bible en un an : Jérémie 3 – 5 et 1 Timothée 4

Rejetez loin de vous toutes les transgressions par lesquelles vous avez péché ; faites‑vous un coeur nouveau et un esprit nouveau. (Ézéchiel 18.31)

S’étant procuré un petit robot, mon fils s’est amusé à le programmer de manière à lui faire accomplir des tâches simples : le faire avancer, s’arrêter et revenir sur ses pas. Il pouvait même lui faire émettre des bips et produire des bruits enregistrés. Le robot faisait exactement ce que mon fils lui commandait. Il n’éclatait jamais de rire ni ne changeait de direction à l’improviste. Il n’avait pas le choix d’obéir.

En créant les êtres humains, Dieu n’a pas créé des robots. Il nous a faits à son image, ayant donc la faculté de réfléchir, de raisonner et de prendre des décisions. Nous sommes en mesure de choisir entre le bien et le mal. Même si nous avons pris l’habitude de désobéir à Dieu, nous sommes libres de faire prendre un virage à notre vie.

Lorsque les Israélites de l’Antiquité se sont attiré des ennuis auprès de Dieu, celui‑ci leur a parlé par l’intermédiaire du prophète Ézéchiel : « Revenez et détournez‑vous de toutes vos transgressions, afin que l’iniquité ne cause pas votre ruine. […] [Faites]‑vous un coeur nouveau et un esprit nouveau » (ÉZ 18.30,31).

Ce type de changement ne peut s’amorcer que par un choix, inspiré de l’Esprit (RO 8.13). P. ex. : dire non à un moment décisif, se fermer aux cancans, se refuser à l’avarice, à la jalousie ou à ___ (remplissez l’espace vide). Si vous connaissez Jésus, vous n’êtes plus esclave du péché, et donc libre de choisir de changer dès aujourd’hui.

Pour connaître un nouveau départ, demandez à Dieu un nouveau coeur.

© 2016 Ministères NPQ

Night Light for Couples - Finding the Strength to Forgive

Night Light for Couples, the couples' devotional from Focus on the Family ministry founder Dr. James Dobson and his wife, Shirley, brings spouses together each evening, helping them stay connected with each other and their Lord.

“If you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” Mark 11:25

Forgiveness is never easy, but it’s the vital first step toward healing. A woman once wrote to tell “Dear Abby” that her husband of two years had had an affair with a young widow, who then carried his child. The wife wanted to die; she also wanted to kill her husband and the widow. But she knew those weren’t the answers she needed. Instead she prayed to God, and the Lord gave her the strength to forgive both the husband and the widow.

The baby was born in the home of the husband and wife and raised as their own. He turned out to be their only child. In fifty years, wife and husband never discussed the incident again. “But,” the wife wrote, “I’ve read the love and gratitude in his eyes a thousand times.”

By praying for God’s help, this woman received peace, a loving marriage, and a child she otherwise wouldn’t have had. The next time anger and resentment rise up in your throat, get on your knees and ask the Lord for the healing work He wants to do in your heart. We believe He will hear and answer that prayer.

Just between us…

• Who in your life has been most difficult to forgive? Why?
• Is there someone you have never forgiven?
• How has God honored the times you’ve forgiven someone?
• Do we have anything that calls for forgiveness between us? What?
• How will forgiving now make our marriage stronger in the future?

Dear Lord Jesus, forgiveness sometimes costs so much and hurts even more! But You forgave us—and now You ask us to forgive others. Teach us the heal- ing power of forgiveness. Help us to bring this gift of love to our marriage again and again. Amen.

• From Night Light For Couples, by Dr. James & Shirley Dobson
  Copyright © 2000 by James Dobson, Inc. All rights reserved.
• “Dear Abby” illustration from The Christ-Centered Marriage by Neil T. Anderson and Charles Mylander (Ventura, Calif.: Gospel Light/Regal Books, 1996).

The Daily Readings for October 23, 2016 - 23rd Sunday after Pentecost

First Reading

from the Old Testament

Give to the Most High as he has given to you, and as generously as you can afford. For the Lord is the one who repays, and he will repay you sevenfold. Do not offer him a bribe, for he will not accept it; and do not rely on a dishonest sacrifice; for the Lord is the judge, and with him there is no partiality. He will not show partiality to the poor; but he will listen to the prayer of one who is wronged. He will not ignore the supplication of the orphan, or the widow when she pours out her complaint. (Ecclesiasticus 35:12-17, NRSV)

This is the Word of the Lord.

Psalm

1   How dear to me is your dwelling, O LORD of hosts! My soul has a desire and longing for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh rejoice in the living God.
2   The sparrow has found her a house and the swallow a nest where she may lay her young; by the side of your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God.
3   Happy are they who dwell in your house! they will always be praising you.
4   Happy are the people whose strength is in you! whose hearts are set on the pilgrims' way.
5   Those who go through the desolate valley will find it a place of springs, for the early rains have covered it with pools of water.
6   They will climb from height to height, and the God of gods will reveal himself in Zion. (Psalm 84:1-6, NRSV)

Second Reading

from the Epistles

As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing. At my first defense no one came to my support, but all deserted me. May it not be counted against them! But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and save me for his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. (2 Timothy 4:6-8, 4:16-18, NRSV)

This is the Word of the Lord.

The Holy Gospel

according to St Luke, the 18th Chapter

Glory to You, O Lord.

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted." (Luke 18:9-14, NRSV)

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

"HOW TO IMPRESS GOD"

Grace and Peace to you from our Lord and Saviour, Jesus who is the Christ. Amen

Summary: We can only impress God when we finally realize that we have nothing in life aside from Christ within us. That is how we manage to impress God - not with our pride, but with our humble honesty.

SERMON

There was a very lost, wicked, and rebellious man who decided it would be good for business if he went down to the church and joined it. He was an adulterer, an alcoholic, and had never been a member of a church in his life.

But when he went down to place membership, he gave public testimony to the church that there was no sin in his life, and that he had grown up in the church, and they readily accepted him as a member.

When he went home he told his wife what he had done, and his wife, a very godly lady, exploded. She condemned him for being a hypocrite, and demanded that he go back to the church the next week and confess what he really was. Well, God used his wife to really break him, and he took it to heart.

The next Sunday he went back to the church, walked down to the front again, and this time confessed to the church all of his sins. He told them he was dishonest, an alcoholic, an adulterer, and that he was sorry. They revoked his membership on the spot. He walked out of the church that day scratching his head and muttered to himself: "These church folks are really strange. I told a lie and they took me in; and when I told the truth they kicked me out!"

The Lord Jesus told a story of two men in a similar situation who had totally different results. One man tried to talk himself into God’s kingdom, but he didn’t make it. One man tried to talk himself out of God’s kingdom and he did make it.

Let’s take a look at the passage in LUKE 18.

Now Luke makes it plain who Jesus told this parable to. In VERSE 9, it says, "He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt:"

Now if you want to know whether or not you are being addressed in this parable, let me ask you some questions:

· Do you ever look at people who don’t go to church, and think you are better than they are because you do go to church? If so, Jesus is talking to you.

· Do you ever look at people in prison, and think you are better than they are because you are not? If so, Jesus is talking to you.

· Do you ever look at people who are divorced, and think that you are better than they are because you are not? If so, then Jesus is talking to you.

· Do you ever look down your nose at anyone for any reason, and think you might be better than them? If so, Jesus is talking to you.

I promise you, every one of you will find yourself somewhere in this story, because at one time or another, all of us are guilty of trying to impress God.

Today, we are going to find out what impresses God and what doesn’t.

1. YOU IMPRESS GOD WHEN YOU DON’T TRY TO

In VERSES 10-12, we read, "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’"

I know immediately you are ready to jump all over the Pharisee because he was, to say the least, a bit arrogant. Quite frankly, he really was an Eagle Scout. He dotted every religious "i" and he crossed every theological "t." He went strictly by the book. He had a heart for religion; the problem was his religion had no heart.

He was standing in the center of the inner court right in the heart of the temple. The reason he stood there was because it was where he could be heard the clearest and seen the best. He let everybody know just how wonderful he was. First of all, we read that he fasted twice a week. Now the Old Testament only required a Jew to fast once a year on the Day of Atonement. But this man fasted a 103 times a year more than he was required.

Then we read that he tithed everything that he possessed. Now the Old Testament only required that you tithe your income. But this man tithed everything that he earned and everything that he bought. In other words, he was a double thither. Now there is nothing wrong with fasting more than once a week, and there certainly is nothing wrong with giving more than a tithe.

But the problem was, this man thought back then what a lot of people keep thinking today--he thought his goodness gained him brownie points with God. He thought God accepts a person based on what they do for Him, or in other words, he thought he could get to heaven by his good works. He was religious and proud of it.

If you put your trust in anything--church membership, church attendance, baptism, religion, good works—anything at all other than Jesus Christ, to make God accept you, you are fooling yourself. The Pharisee thought that God would be impressed with all that he was doing. So now we learn the first clue on what impresses God.

What impresses God is when you don’t try to impress God.

I heard about a fifth grader that came home very excited from school one day. She had been voted "prettiest girl in the class." The next day she was even more excited when she came home, for the class had voted her "the most likely to succeed." The next day she came home and told her mother she had won a third contest, being voted "the most popular."

But the next day she came home extremely upset. The mother said, "What happened, did you lose this time?" She said, "Oh no, I won the vote again." The mother said, "What were you voted this time?" She said, "most stuck up."

Well this Pharisee would have won that contest hands down. He had an "I" problem. Five times you will read the little pronoun "I" in these two verses. He was stoned on the drug of self. He suffered from two problems: inflation and deflation. He had an inflated view of who he was, and a deflated view of who God was. He couldn’t see the truth because his “I’s” were too close together. His pride had made him too big for his spiritual britches.

C. S. Lewis once said, "A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and of course, as long as you are looking down, you can’t see something that’s above you."

This Pharisee had fooled himself about himself. He says, "God, I thank you that I am not like other people." But he was like other people, because "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."

There was a man on trial charged with burglary. As he was standing there, the judge said, "Sir, you can let me try your case, or you can choose to have a jury of your peers." The man thought for a moment, and said, "Your honor, what are peers?" The judge said, "Well, they are people just like you." The defendant said, "Forget it, I don’t want no thieves trying me!"

VERSE 11 says, he "standing by himself, was praying thus."

The original Greek manuscript actually says, "he stood and prayed to himself."

When you approach God with pride, you wind up talking to yourself. Someone said, "The only person God sends away empty is the person full of himself." Prideful prayer is nothing more than an echo in your own ears.

2. HUMILITY IMPRESSES GOD.

The contrast Jesus gives would have been easily recognized to those hearing this parable. A tax collector was as different from a Pharisee as the Pope is from a Postal Worker.

Tax collectors were the scum of Jewish society. They were the IRS of the Roman government. They charged exorbitant rates, they skimmed extra money off the top, they would steal candy from a baby, and a welfare check from their own mother. They were considered traitors to the nation of Israel. Just look at Zacchaeus, whom we spoke about this morning in LUKE 19.

They were so despised they could not hold public office or even give testimony in Jewish court because their word was considered worthless. The tax collector was to the Pharisee what an outlaw is to the sheriff. This man no doubt was a liar and a cheat.

But now the story takes a strange twist. The Pharisee tried to impress God, but wasn’t able to. The tax collector was not trying to impress at all, he was just being humble of heart, and that impressed God immensely.

Humility impresses God. This tax collector was as humble as the Pharisee was proud. You could see it in his feet.

VERSE 13 tells us, "And the tax collector, standing far off,"

The Pharisee went to the center of the court and stood in the sunshine where he would be noticed by the most people; the tax collector stood on the outer edges of the court of the Gentiles in the shadows, not carrying to let people see him pray. He just wanted to have a dialogue with the Lord God.

You could see his humility in his eyes. The passage goes on to say that he "would not even look up to heaven."

The Pharisee was too proud to look up; the tax collector was too ashamed to look up.

You could hear the sincerity in his voice. For he says, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner!"

Well, God heard his prayer, for in VERSE 14, Jesus said, "I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other."

A highway to heaven is paved with humility. Now on the outside you would have thought the Pharisee was much closer to God, but on the inside it was the tax collector who was close to God. We find out why in the following verse.

PSALM 34:18 says, "The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit."

What impressed God so much was this man was simply willing to humble himself before God.

It hit me as I was thinking about this, that there is only one thing worse than being a sinner. The only thing worse than being a sinner is not admitting that you are one!

3. LET ME OFFER YOU SOME CLOSING REMARKS.

In VERSE 14, listen to what Jesus said about the man who impressed God. "I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted."

The Lord Jesus draws a conclusion from this story that shocked his listeners. Remember the Pharisees wore the white hats, the tax collectors wore the black hats. If you had taken a vote in that crowd as to which man God accepted, and which man was safely in his kingdom, the Pharisee would have won by a unanimous landslide. But there’s only one vote that counts, and that is God’s vote.

The first thing we should all learn from this is that it isn’t important how we see ourselves, but only how God sees us.

The second thing we need to learn is that mercy is something we cannot earn or pay for. It is given freely by God, but only to those who have admitted that we need His mercy.

Many years ago a man conned his way into the orchestra of the Emperor of China, although he could not sing or play an instrument.

Whenever the group practiced or performed, he would hold his flute against his lips, pretending to play, but not making a sound. For years he received a good salary and enjoyed a comfortable living.

Then one day the Emperor requested a solo from each musician. Well, the flutist got very nervous. There wasn’t enough time to learn the instrument. He pretended to be sick, but the royal physician wasn’t fooled. On the day of his solo performance, the imposter took poison and killed himself.

That is where we get the old expression; "He refused to face the music."

The way to impress God is simply face the music. You can face the music now and be a part of the heavenly choir, or you can face the music later and be a part of the satanic screechers.

When you finally realize that you have absolutely nothing in your life aside from Christ, you have finally impressed God.

Seeking God?  Click here to find out more about how to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Sermon shared by Bruce Ball
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The New Revised Standard Version Bible may be quoted and/or reprinted up to and inclusive of five hundred (500) verses without express written permission of the publisher, provided the verses quoted do not amount to a complete book of the Bible or account for fifty percent (50%) of the total work in which they are quoted.

"HOW TO IMPRESS GOD" - The Sunday Sermon for October 23, 2016 - 23rd Sunday after Pentecost

The Pharisee and the Publican

"HOW TO IMPRESS GOD"

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted." (Luke 18:9-14 NRSV)

Grace and Peace to you from our Lord and Saviour, Jesus who is the Christ. Amen

Summary: We can only impress God when we finally realize that we have nothing in life aside from Christ within us. That is how we manage to impress God - not with our pride, but with our humble honesty.

SERMON

There was a very lost, wicked, and rebellious man who decided it would be good for business if he went down to the church and joined it. He was an adulterer, an alcoholic, and had never been a member of a church in his life.

But when he went down to place membership, he gave public testimony to the church that there was no sin in his life, and that he had grown up in the church, and they readily accepted him as a member.

When he went home he told his wife what he had done, and his wife, a very godly lady, exploded. She condemned him for being a hypocrite, and demanded that he go back to the church the next week and confess what he really was. Well, God used his wife to really break him, and he took it to heart.

The next Sunday he went back to the church, walked down to the front again, and this time confessed to the church all of his sins. He told them he was dishonest, an alcoholic, an adulterer, and that he was sorry. They revoked his membership on the spot. He walked out of the church that day scratching his head and muttered to himself: "These church folks are really strange. I told a lie and they took me in; and when I told the truth they kicked me out!"

The Lord Jesus told a story of two men in a similar situation who had totally different results. One man tried to talk himself into God’s kingdom, but he didn’t make it. One man tried to talk himself out of God’s kingdom and he did make it.

Let’s take a look at the passage in LUKE 18.

Now Luke makes it plain who Jesus told this parable to. In VERSE 9, it says, "He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt:"

Now if you want to know whether or not you are being addressed in this parable, let me ask you some questions:

· Do you ever look at people who don’t go to church, and think you are better than they are because you do go to church? If so, Jesus is talking to you.

· Do you ever look at people in prison, and think you are better than they are because you are not? If so, Jesus is talking to you.

· Do you ever look at people who are divorced, and think that you are better than they are because you are not? If so, then Jesus is talking to you.

· Do you ever look down your nose at anyone for any reason, and think you might be better than them? If so, Jesus is talking to you.

I promise you, every one of you will find yourself somewhere in this story, because at one time or another, all of us are guilty of trying to impress God.

Today, we are going to find out what impresses God and what doesn’t.

1. YOU IMPRESS GOD WHEN YOU DON’T TRY TO

In VERSES 10-12, we read, "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’"

I know immediately you are ready to jump all over the Pharisee because he was, to say the least, a bit arrogant. Quite frankly, he really was an Eagle Scout. He dotted every religious "i" and he crossed every theological "t." He went strictly by the book. He had a heart for religion; the problem was his religion had no heart.

He was standing in the center of the inner court right in the heart of the temple. The reason he stood there was because it was where he could be heard the clearest and seen the best. He let everybody know just how wonderful he was. First of all, we read that he fasted twice a week. Now the Old Testament only required a Jew to fast once a year on the Day of Atonement. But this man fasted a 103 times a year more than he was required.

Then we read that he tithed everything that he possessed. Now the Old Testament only required that you tithe your income. But this man tithed everything that he earned and everything that he bought. In other words, he was a double thither. Now there is nothing wrong with fasting more than once a week, and there certainly is nothing wrong with giving more than a tithe.

But the problem was, this man thought back then what a lot of people keep thinking today--he thought his goodness gained him brownie points with God. He thought God accepts a person based on what they do for Him, or in other words, he thought he could get to heaven by his good works. He was religious and proud of it.

If you put your trust in anything--church membership, church attendance, baptism, religion, good works—anything at all other than Jesus Christ, to make God accept you, you are fooling yourself. The Pharisee thought that God would be impressed with all that he was doing. So now we learn the first clue on what impresses God.

What impresses God is when you don’t try to impress God.

I heard about a fifth grader that came home very excited from school one day. She had been voted "prettiest girl in the class." The next day she was even more excited when she came home, for the class had voted her "the most likely to succeed." The next day she came home and told her mother she had won a third contest, being voted "the most popular."

But the next day she came home extremely upset. The mother said, "What happened, did you lose this time?" She said, "Oh no, I won the vote again." The mother said, "What were you voted this time?" She said, "most stuck up."

Well this Pharisee would have won that contest hands down. He had an "I" problem. Five times you will read the little pronoun "I" in these two verses. He was stoned on the drug of self. He suffered from two problems: inflation and deflation. He had an inflated view of who he was, and a deflated view of who God was. He couldn’t see the truth because his “I’s” were too close together. His pride had made him too big for his spiritual britches.

C. S. Lewis once said, "A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and of course, as long as you are looking down, you can’t see something that’s above you."

This Pharisee had fooled himself about himself. He says, "God, I thank you that I am not like other people." But he was like other people, because "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."

There was a man on trial charged with burglary. As he was standing there, the judge said, "Sir, you can let me try your case, or you can choose to have a jury of your peers." The man thought for a moment, and said, "Your honor, what are peers?" The judge said, "Well, they are people just like you." The defendant said, "Forget it, I don’t want no thieves trying me!"

VERSE 11 says, he "standing by himself, was praying thus."

The original Greek manuscript actually says, "he stood and prayed to himself."

When you approach God with pride, you wind up talking to yourself. Someone said, "The only person God sends away empty is the person full of himself." Prideful prayer is nothing more than an echo in your own ears.

2. HUMILITY IMPRESSES GOD.

The contrast Jesus gives would have been easily recognized to those hearing this parable. A tax collector was as different from a Pharisee as the Pope is from a Postal Worker.

Tax collectors were the scum of Jewish society. They were the IRS of the Roman government. They charged exorbitant rates, they skimmed extra money off the top, they would steal candy from a baby, and a welfare check from their own mother. They were considered traitors to the nation of Israel. Just look at Zacchaeus, whom we spoke about this morning in LUKE 19.

They were so despised they could not hold public office or even give testimony in Jewish court because their word was considered worthless. The tax collector was to the Pharisee what an outlaw is to the sheriff. This man no doubt was a liar and a cheat.

But now the story takes a strange twist. The Pharisee tried to impress God, but wasn’t able to. The tax collector was not trying to impress at all, he was just being humble of heart, and that impressed God immensely.

Humility impresses God. This tax collector was as humble as the Pharisee was proud. You could see it in his feet.

VERSE 13 tells us, "And the tax collector, standing far off,"

The Pharisee went to the center of the court and stood in the sunshine where he would be noticed by the most people; the tax collector stood on the outer edges of the court of the Gentiles in the shadows, not carrying to let people see him pray. He just wanted to have a dialogue with the Lord God.

You could see his humility in his eyes. The passage goes on to say that he "would not even look up to heaven."

The Pharisee was too proud to look up; the tax collector was too ashamed to look up.

You could hear the sincerity in his voice. For he says, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner!"

Well, God heard his prayer, for in VERSE 14, Jesus said, "I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other."

A highway to heaven is paved with humility. Now on the outside you would have thought the Pharisee was much closer to God, but on the inside it was the tax collector who was close to God. We find out why in the following verse.

PSALM 34:18 says, "The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit."

What impressed God so much was this man was simply willing to humble himself before God.

It hit me as I was thinking about this, that there is only one thing worse than being a sinner. The only thing worse than being a sinner is not admitting that you are one!

3. LET ME OFFER YOU SOME CLOSING REMARKS.

In VERSE 14, listen to what Jesus said about the man who impressed God. "I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted."

The Lord Jesus draws a conclusion from this story that shocked his listeners. Remember the Pharisees wore the white hats, the tax collectors wore the black hats. If you had taken a vote in that crowd as to which man God accepted, and which man was safely in his kingdom, the Pharisee would have won by a unanimous landslide. But there’s only one vote that counts, and that is God’s vote.

The first thing we should all learn from this is that it isn’t important how we see ourselves, but only how God sees us.

The second thing we need to learn is that mercy is something we cannot earn or pay for. It is given freely by God, but only to those who have admitted that we need His mercy.

Many years ago a man conned his way into the orchestra of the Emperor of China, although he could not sing or play an instrument.

Whenever the group practiced or performed, he would hold his flute against his lips, pretending to play, but not making a sound. For years he received a good salary and enjoyed a comfortable living.

Then one day the Emperor requested a solo from each musician. Well, the flutist got very nervous. There wasn’t enough time to learn the instrument. He pretended to be sick, but the royal physician wasn’t fooled. On the day of his solo performance, the imposter took poison and killed himself.

That is where we get the old expression; "He refused to face the music."

The way to impress God is simply face the music. You can face the music now and be a part of the heavenly choir, or you can face the music later and be a part of the satanic screechers.

When you finally realize that you have absolutely nothing in your life aside from Christ, you have finally impressed God.

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New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The New Revised Standard Version Bible may be quoted and/or reprinted up to and inclusive of five hundred (500) verses without express written permission of the publisher, provided the verses quoted do not amount to a complete book of the Bible or account for fifty percent (50%) of the total work in which they are quoted. Sermon shared by Bruce Ball.

The Daily Meditation for October 23, 2016

From Forward Day By Day
Written by Scott B. Hayashi

Luke 18:10 (NRSV) Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

We find two familiar people in our reading from Luke. The Pharisee is a virtuous man—and he knows it. The tax collector is a sinner—and he knows it too. The Pharisee cannot see the tax collector as being made in God’s image. For all of his virtue, the Pharisee cannot imagine the tax collector fasting twice a week and tithing his income. The Pharisee goes to the temple to pray, but instead of devoting his entire attention to God, he focuses on the tax collector’s shortcomings—and his own goodness.

The tax collector does not look at the Pharisee. His whole attention and devotion are deeply focused on God’s goodness and mercy. The tax collector is a sinner—his whole culture reinforces this message. He deeply understands his need of God’s mercy.

Perhaps we might learn to see that we all—those of us who are modern-day versions of Pharisees or tax collectors—are in need of God’s mercy.

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Standing Strong Through the Storm - A DISCIPLE’S LOVE

"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:26

A Christian medical doctor in China shares his experience when he refused to bow down or "kowtow" to an image of Mao because of his love for Jesus. After severe beatings did not succeed in influencing him, the authorities resorted to a more subtle strategy by getting his whole family to stand around him and weep. Here is the story in his own words:


I had seven children as well as my wife all surrounding me and weeping. Crying bitterly, my wife said to me, “If you don't kowtow you will surely die and then what will we do?” For three days they stood around me weeping until my wife’s eyes were dreadfully swollen. “After you have died, what will happen to these children? Please, for the sake of your family, just kowtow.” They cried and cried. I really did not know what to do. I felt that I had no more strength so I prayed, “Lord I have no strength left, what must I do?”

On the third day, the Lord’s word [Luke 14:26] came, Hallelujah! There is no word of the Lord that is without power. The Lord through His Word filled me with the life and power of God. I said to my wife, “Stop crying. It’s no use your crying. I am the Lord’s disciple. For the Lord’s sake I am ready to die!”

Then the day came when the authorities called me and said, “You had better consider your situation carefully. If you want to live, you must kowtow otherwise it will mean certain death for you. Tonight we will make you eat the “steel bean” (bullet). You will be executed! This is your very last opportunity!” And so he sent me back to think it over.

There was, however, no need for me to think it over. I was ready for the bullet. But the night passed without my being called. Next day I saw that outside folk were running hither and thither and I wondered whatever had happened to cause such alarm. Later I was to learn that immediately after I had left the office, black swellings appeared on the prison warden’s legs and it was frightfully painful. Because he was the chief, all the doctors in the hospital were rushed to his side to give him aid. But within twenty-four hours he was dead.

The doctor was later released from prison and returned to his family and medical practice.

RESPONSE: I recommit myself to the Lord. My love for Him will be even more than my love for family.

PRAYER: Lord, help to prove my love for You above all others regardless of the circumstances.

Un Dia a la Vez - La luz del mundo

Así alumbre vuestra luz delante de los hombres, para que vean vuestras buenas obras, y glorifiquen a vuestro Padre que está en los cielos. Mateo 5:16, rv-60

El deseo de Dios es que nosotros seamos luz del mundo. De ahí que nuestra vida se compare con una lámpara que alumbra a los demás. Sin embargo, para poder alumbrar debemos estar llenos y cargados de Dios y de su Palabra para servir de ejemplo a otras personas.

En la época de Cristo se utilizaban lámparas pequeñas de arcilla en las que se quemaba aceite de oliva. Sin aceite, no prendían. Y si nuestra lámpara no está llena de Dios, será muy difícil alumbrar a los demás. A veces tenemos una vida tan fría con Dios que lo más probable es que, a mitad del camino, nos quedemos nosotros también sin luz.

Pidámosle a Dios que nos llene hoy de su amor, que podamos tomar ese hábito de leer la Biblia y de ese modo ser la luz del mundo, tal y como lo dejó escrito en su Palabra.

Verse of the Day - October 23, 2016

Galatians 6:2 (NIV) Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Read all of Galatians 6

Our Daily Bread - I Am With You

By Lawrence Darmani

Read: Jeremiah 1:1–10 | Bible in a Year: Jeremiah 1–2; 1 Timothy 3

Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you. Jeremiah 1:8

When I served as an intern for a Christian magazine, I wrote a story about a person who had become a Christian. In a dramatic change, he said goodbye to his former life and embraced his new Master: Jesus. A few days after the magazine hit the street, an anonymous caller threatened, “Be careful, Darmani. We are watching you! Your life is in danger in this country if you write such stories.”

That was not the only time I have been threatened for pointing people to Christ. On one occasion a man told me to vanish with the tract I was giving him or else! In both cases, I cowered. But these were only verbal threats. Many Christians have had threats carried out against them. In some cases simply living a godly lifestyle attracts mistreatment from people.

The Lord told Jeremiah, “You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you” (Jer. 1:7), and Jesus told His disciples, “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves” (Matt. 10:16). Yes, we may encounter threats, hardships, and even pain. But God assures us of His presence. “I am with you,” He told Jeremiah (Jer. 1:8), and Jesus assured His followers, “I am with you always” (Matt. 28:20).

Whatever struggles we face in our attempt to live for the Lord, we can trust in the Lord’s presence.

Lord, we’re grateful that You are near to us in everything we face. Please protect Your people around the world.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:10

© 2016 Our Daily Bread Ministries

Unser Täglich Brot - Ich bin bei dir

Von Lawrence Darmani

Lesen: Jeremia 1,1-10 | Die Bibel In Einem Jahr: Jeremia 1–2; 1.Timotheus 3

Fürchte dich nicht vor ihnen; denn ich bin bei dir. (Jeremia 1,8)

Als ich bei einer christlichen Zeitschrift ein Praktikum machte, schrieb ich einmal einen Bericht über eine  Person, die Christ geworden war. Er hatte sich radikal  von seinem früheren Leben abgewendet, um Jesus zu folgen, seinem neuen Herrn. Ein paar Tage nach der Veröffentlichung drohte ein anonymer Anrufer: „Darmani, sei vorsichtig. Wir beobachten dich! Dein Leben in diesem Land ist in Gefahr, wenn du solche Geschichten schreibst.“

Es war nicht das einzige Mal, dass ich bedroht wurde, weil ich Menschen auf Jesus hinwies. Einmal sagte ein Mann, ich solle mitsamt meinem Traktat verschwinden, sonst könne er für nichts garantieren! Beide Male duckte ich mich. Dabei waren das nur mündliche Drohungen. Viele Christen werden schon körperlich angegriffen. Manchmal führt schon ein frommer Lebensstil zu Misshandlungen.

Der Herr sagte zu Jeremia: „Du sollst gehen, wohin ich dich sende, und predigen alles, was ich dir gebiete“ (Jer. 1,7). Und Jesus sagte zu den Jüngern: „Ich sende euch wie Schafe mitten unter die Wölfe“ (Matth. 10,16). Ja, wir werden Bedrohung, Not und Leid erleben. Aber Gott versichert uns, dass er da ist. „Ich bin mit dir“, sagte er zu Jeremia (Jer. 1,8), und Jesus sagte zu den Jüngern: „Ich bin bei euch alle Tage“ (Matth. 28,20).

Egal, was uns passiert, wenn wir für Jesus leben; auf seine Gegenwart können wir uns verlassen.

Herr, wir danken dir, dass du immer und überall bei uns bist. Bitte beschütze deine Kinder auf der ganzen Welt.

Selig sind, die um der Gerechtigkeit willen verfolgt werden; denn ihrer ist das Himmelreich. Matthäus 5,10

© 2016 Unser Täglich Brot